Vick Reinstated, but Questions Remain

Albert Breer SportingNews.com

On Monday, the most important question as related to Michael Vick's return to the NFL was answered.

That would be the "when" part of the equation. Commissioner Roger Goodell will allow Vick to go to training camp with any team prepared to sign him. And Goodell will consider Vick for full reinstatement at some point before Week 6 of the '09 season.

Between now and then, Vick is eligible to attend team functions and to practice daily and participate in the final two preseason games.

So the process begins. But the "when" in this situation will merely be followed by the "who", the "where" and the "how" before Vick can become the kind of electrifying presence he once was.

Here are how those steps could unfold:

Who

Two conditions seem to need to be in place here for Vick.

First, he'll need an owner who'll tolerate protestors showing up at training camp and regular-season games, plus one willing to take any accompanying public relations hit, as small as that might be two years after Vick was committed.

Second, he'll need a creative offensive coaching staff willing to find ways to use him. Chances are, he won't start at quarterback this season, but his undeniable physical gifts and the fact he'll take a valuable roster spot means that the team that signs him must find an innovative way to use a player who always has been a quarterback.

"You think about New England; they utilize people in so many different ways, they've got veteran leadership that won't allow it to be a distraction," Saints linebacker Scott Fujita said. "(New England) would seem to be a good fit for him. There'd be no shenanigans tolerated, so it would not affect the locker room, and they'd find a way to use him."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, though, would likely not be thrilled to create a built-in, midseason "event" such as this.

The Dolphins also would seem natural, but the drafting of Pat White in the second round makes one wonder how they'd use Vick. And with almost every team, there's one issue like this or another, which will make it important for Vick to find the right home, not just the most lucrative one or one with a bad quarterback situation.

Where

"Where?", as in which position. Plenty of people have raised the idea that Vick could bring value as a return man or slot receiver.

That's a tribute to Vick's athleticism. But it's also a bit far-fetched to believe he'd be expected to re-invent himself as a player at age 29.

That said, with elements of the collegiate spread-option offense seeping into the NFL now -- a trend ongoing now for more than a year -- offensive packages exist around the league where Vick's playmaking ability could be showcased and allow him to operate in the comfort zone of taking snaps, rather than handoffs or receptions.

"It'd be very difficult to come back after two years off," Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "But if one athlete could pull it off, I think that would be Michael Vick."

How

And here's the really, really important part, in regards to Vick's rebirth as an NFL player. Sources close to Vick have maintained recently that he is a changed man, primarily because he now takes life more seriously.

This is an ideal time to prove it. There was a perception around the Falcons that Vick didn't put in enough time to be great, relegating him as a player who could beat you more often one way (with his legs) than in another (with his arm).

If he's going to play quarterback again, and most think that's a must for him to make an impact again, it's time for Vick to hit the books.

But if he's ever to be an NFL starting quarterback again, he must earn it as much, if not more so, in the classroom as on the field.

"My feeling is every year, to succeed in this league, you have to get better, and playing against the best competition helps you get better," Texans running back Steve Slaton said. "He's been out of it for so long, and he's not been getting critiqued or critiquing himself, that it's going to be hard, especially playing quarterback.

"It's hard to take time off, particularly when you're the guy running the team."

Clearly, Vick would like to be in position to do that once again. And Monday's events were just the first steps in that direction.

Staff writer Albert Breer covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at abreer@sportingnews.com.

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